She picked out one of the books and opened it, the door opened to reveal Commander Hawke and his second in command, Micheal. Both wearing the same serious but calm expression.

"Morning, Commander." she placed the book down on the table beneath the cabinet as her heart raced. "I was just waiting for you." she forced a sheepish smile.

"And you had the nerve to go through his things while waiting?" 

The Commander made no remark as he walked up to his desk and took a seat, "How is your father? Miss Lavellan." he did not appear to suspect anything.

My father? Was it not just sedition? Did he plan to turn traitor? 

"A Lavellan? Don't think your name means you can do as you please." Her jaw tightened as the Deputy Commander approached her, looking at the book she had placed down.

"Sit." The commander pushed the chair before his desk with his feet.

"Fine." She lowered her gaze as she walked past the Deputy Commander and took a seat. "He is fine." 

"I had not heard of him for quite some time, had he lost his enthusiasm?" 

She stared at him and cold blue eyes stared back at her, "He was very brave your father, criticizing the Royal family the way he did." It was good that he knew of her father, his reputation would prove useful among traitors.

"My father was a fool, He should not have said such traitorous words." her voice calm despite the nerves that plagued her.

"I know sedition is a serious offense, I am surprised nothing came off it, but perhaps something happened behind closed curtains. The reason for his recent silence." she gulped.

"You can trust me." he leaned forward as his elbows rested on his desk, "I won't tell anyone."

"Nothing happened, he simply came to his senses." She kept her expression blank, "Thank god for that, people were getting the wrong idea, that senile old man." she crossed her arms as her nerves refused to be contained.

"Who knows what might happen had he kept uttering such traitorous words?" She turned her face away as the memory of the raid crossed her mind.

"I see." He leaned back against his chair and relaxed, "What is it you wanted to see me about?" his eyes focused on hers.

"I wish to be placed in Team two of the second squad, my friends are there."

"A newbie making requests out of the commander." The Deputy Commander placed the book back into the shelf, "Takes things but did not return them into place, stop being so haughty, you're not doing your first impression any good." he poured himself a glass of wine. 

"I am much more comfortable working with people I know." Her attention remained focused on the Commander.

"We don't pick and choose in the Death Corps, everyone needs to be comfortable with one another, having trust and faith in your fellow Death Corps is one of our core values." The Commander rose, "Did you miss that part during the initiation?" he walked towards the door, "Walk with me, Miss Lavellan."

---

She walked the streets of Ivalice as restoration works were in progress but there was no way these people could rebuild what they've lost, No way to bring back their loved ones. The battle had left a scar the citizens will never forget. Why is he bringing me here?

"What do you see? Who do you think is to blame for these suffering?" The commander's eyes locked onto hers as she turned to look at him, is it not obvious? "I am not talking about the Northmen, rather a more subtle villain."

"Who do you think deserves blame then?"

He smiled.

"It happened due to a combination of things, instigated by greed, I blame greed." His tone bitter, it was clear that Ivalice was not the only thing in his mind. "I blame the greediest of us all." 

"You have seen war, I had hoped you'd understand, how was life within the walls for you?" She was taken aback.

"It's your first day of war, for them, it had been going on for over forty years." He turned to the road ahead, an old woman with three children sharing a meal.

"What are you implying?"

"What I am saying is, you wake up every morning with breakfast already prepared while they wake up wondering if it's their last day, supping on nothing but broth of beans." her jaw tightened.

"Would it feel fair to you? That someone else rattled a snake and you got bit? That you are dying over someone else's greed?" 

He looked over his shoulder as the words escaped his lips in fear someone might have heard him. 

"I blame maggots, maggots that grew fat on endeavors corpses."

"You speak of the royal family?"

"Do you think of them as maggots? Perhaps they fit the word, from birth their life was secured. One of great luxury at the expense of others, never having to earn anything in their life, the same goes for certain classes of nobles."

"Do not mock me."

"Speak truthfully, was there ever a day in your life that you thought of war? That you felt its heat?" 

He turned to face her with judging eyes. 'You were ignorant, now you know better, I do not blame you."

"I blame those who are aware of what is going on and chose to do nothing, simply out of selfishness, they who fight to keep their stations in this corrupt world."

She chuckled.

"What do you plan on doing? Commander? Are you so naive as to think you could change the world?"

"What is the alternative? That I let my hands idle in the face of injustice?" she turned her face away, he was very much like her father.

"Commander!" they turned to a voice, it was a Death Corp rider, "Commander Meredith has arrived, she is waiting for you at the church."

It did not seem like the Commander knew she was coming, the rider dismounted and the Commander mounted the horse swiftly.

"What are you waiting for?"

The commander offered his hand as he sits atop the horse, the sun glared as his hair is blown by the wind, Christian. She took his hand and he pulled her up. 

Her eyes wide as reality kicked in, What is wrong with me? She pulled away but the horse jerked as it galloped and she had her arms tight around his chest instead. She was too slow to get off.

---